By State Rep. Brooks Landgraf
In 1972, the University of Texas Permian Basin broke ground on its first academic facility, the iconic Mesa Building in Odessa.
When construction was completed in 1974, it became the central hub of activity for all UTPB students and faculty. At that time, UTPB was a far cry from the bustling university and research institution we see today.
It served a small student body and offered only a limited number of junior, senior, and graduate-level programs. Now, the university boasts an enrollment of nearly 7,500 undergraduate and graduate students and has transformed into the premier destination for public higher education in West Texas.
Year after year, UTPB’s student population continues to grow, and the campus expands along with it. Amidst this growth, the Mesa Building has remained the heart of academic life on campus, and, as one would expect, the50-year-old building has required many renovations and repairs over the years to maintain its central role.
The first of these improvement projects occurred in the 1990s, when the state legislature provided $4 million to waterproof the building and replace its roof.
That state commitment came about 20 years after the Mesa Building’s initial construction. Nearly 30 years after those initial improvements, and after discussions in 2020 with UTPB’s president, Dr. Sandra Woodley, I felt it was time for the State of Texas to step up and support UTPB’s flagship building once again.
The opportunity for a major investment in Mesa Building arrived in 2021 during a special session of the legislature in 2021. During that session, a bill that aimed to increase capital projects at universities across Texas was introduced by a state senator from the Houston area.
Senate Bill 52 allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to various institutions, including Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UT-Austin, the University of Houston, and others.
Notably absent from this initial group, however, was UTPB. As soon as the bill landed in the Senate Higher Education Committee, I began tirelessly working with my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to ensure UTPB received its fair share of state funding. In the end, we succeeded.
The bill left the Senate committee with tens of millions of dollars dedicated to a renovation of the Mesa Building. Two weeks later, Senate Bill 52 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, securing a whopping $44 million for the building, all without raising taxes on hardworking Texas families.
The state-funded renovation of the Mesa Building began this month and is expected to be completed by 2026. The building will receive significant upgrades to classrooms, collaborative workspaces, technology, and accessibility infrastructure, ensuring it meets the evolving demands of both students and faculty in the 21st century. However, this $44 million investment is about more than just one building — it represents a commitment by the state and myself to the future of UTPB and the broader Permian Basin region.
That commitment was reaffirmed in the 2023 legislative session when I successfully fought to provide $6 million in additional general funding for UTPB. As more money flows to the university, more prospective students and researchers will flock to Odessa, further invigorating the economic diversification and workforce preparedness of our region. As we look ahead to the 2025 legislative session, I remain committed to fighting for more funding to support UTPB’s growth and continued excellence. The university’s role in shaping West Texas’ future is undeniable, and ensuring that UTPB has the resources it needs will be one of my top priorities. With the right state support, UTPB will continue to attract bright minds and cutting-edge development to our communities. By the time the Mesa Building is due for another major renovation, I am confident that UTPB will stand as one of the brightest beacons of higher education and innovation in our great state.
God bless Texas!
